Clip fastened picture frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A picture frame assembly formed of outer and inner frame parts, the inner frame parts being slidably or snap fastened into the space in the outer frame parts and being interchangeable with inner frame parts of different shape and construction for serving the purpose of securing a wooden painting frame within the frame parts and at the same time utilizing clips for the securing of the picture mat assembly for the painting frame assembly within the frame parts. The frame parts are cut on a bias from long extruded members and are joined at their corners, the outer frame parts having rear grooves and the joining of the outer frame parts to include the inner frame parts being effected by corner plates extending into the ends of the grooves at the corner joints thereof and the inner parts having square recesses for receiving the picture mount assembly or a painting and clips adapted to be turned fastened into the grooves on the back of the outer parts and turned to a location to overlie the back of the picture - mat assembly or painting frame to hold the same in the squared recesses of the inner frame parts. Clips having opposing projections to be turned into a T shaped slot, a picture surface engaging portion, a hanging wire loop portion and opening for attachment by a screw to a wooden frame.

United States Patent Shore [54] CLIP FASTENED PICTURE FRAME ASSEMBLY[72] Inventor: Frank Shore, 26 Lantern Rd., l-licksville,

22 Filed: Nov. 20, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 91,282

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J.Contreras AttorneyPolachek & Saulsbury 1 May30, 1972 [5 7] ABSTRACT Apicture frame assembly formed of outer and inner frame parts, the innerframe parts being slidabl'y or snap fastened into the space in the outerframe parts and being interchangeable with inner frame parts ofdifferent shape and construction for serving the purpose of securing awooden painting frame within the frame parts and at the same timeutilizing clips for the securing of the picture mat assembly for thepainting frame assembly within the frame parts. The frame parts are cuton a bias from long extruded members and are joined at their corners,the outer frame parts having rear grooves and the joining of the outerframe parts to include the inner frame parts being effected bycornerplates extending into the ends of the grooves at the corner jointsthereof and the inner parts having square recesses for receiving thepicture mount assembly or a painting and clips adapted to be turnedfastened into the grooves on the back of the outer parts and turned to alocation to overlie the back of the picture mat assembly or paintingframe to hold the same in the squared recesses of the inner frame parts.Clips having opposing projections to be turned into a T shaped slot, apicture surface engaging portion, a hanging wire loop portion andopening for attachment by a screw to a wooden frame.

9 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENT OR.

FRANK SHORE ATTORNEY5 Patented May 30, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK SHORETORNEYS Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,629

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. FRANK SHORE TTURNE Y5 CLIP FASTENED PICTUREFRAME ASSEMBLY This invention relates to picture frame assemblies. It isthe principal object of the present invention to provide a pictureassembly made of outer and inner frame parts which can be joinedtogether and by a provision of a different inner frame part the pictureframe serving for either to receive a picture mat assembly or a canvaspainting frame and wherein the picture mat assembly and the paintingframe can be releasably and easily retained within the picture frameassembly by snap clips turnable into place upon the rear of the frameassembly and wherein grooves provided in the rear of the outer frameparts and used for the joining of the frame parts together by cornerplates can be used for the turnable retaining clips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picture frame assemblyformed of inner and outer frame parts, in which the picture mat assemblyor canvas painting can be secured in place by clips and without the needof fastening screws or special tools for securing the clips to the frameparts.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a picture frameassembly, having the above objects in mind, which is of simpleconstruction, has a minimum number of pieces, adapted to be convertedfrom picture mat assembly to a floating frame assembly, easy toassemble, effective and efficient in use.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the picture frame embodying thefeatures of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the picture frame showing the clipsused in securing the picture mat assembly in the frame.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the frameand as viewed on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view of the framewith illustration made as to the manner that the clip is applied to therear of the frame to hold the picture mat assembly in the frame.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the frame adapted as a floatingframe for receiving a canvas painting with the retaining clips beingadapted to serve for the placing of nails or screws into the woodenframe of the painting.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the floating frame with the clipsin place upon the frame to secure the canvas paint- FIG. 7 is anenlarged vertical sectional view taken through the floating frame andthe canvas painting and as viewed on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of the frame andpainting assembly looking upon the clip and illustrating the manner inwhich a nail or screw is applied to the wooden painting frame so thatthe clip when turned into attaching position is adapted to receive thescrew or nail.

FIG. 9 is a collective and perspective view of the clip and attachingscrews for the painting frame free of the clip and the clip free oftheframe.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a further floating frame with acanvas painting fitted therein and a marginal gap running along thesides of the painting frame to show depth against the inclined surfaceof an inner wall piece.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view embodying a modified form used forsecurement of the frame against the inner wall part of the frame. I

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the floating frameand taken through one of the clip fasteners and showing the woodenpainting frame secured by a screw to the clip and the clip having an eyeprojection to which a hanging wire is fixed.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the modified clip and of the screwused for the attaching of the wooden frame to the clip.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the groove on theouter frame to which this clip is secured and with illustration beingmade as to the manner in which the clip is secured into and under theflanges of the grooves.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one of the angle shaped corner platesused for securing the outer frame pieces together with the legs of theframe piece being bowed to insure tight grip within the rear groove onthe outer frame members.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary illustrative view showing how the bowed portionof the angle shaped plate has gripping relationship with the bottom andopposing flanges of the grooves.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of another one of the angleshaped corner plates with the legs of the plate being bowed differentlyfrom FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another angle shapedplate which is bowed still differently from that shown in FIGS. 15 and17.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, 10 represents a completepicture frame assembly with parts assembled together and containing thepicture and mat. This picture frame assembly is made from four metalpieces cut from an extruded metal piece on an angle bias of 45 toprovide a mitered joint at each of the corners of the frame and isindicated at 16. These frame pieces are secured together at the joints16 by angle shaped plates 17. These plates are extended into the ends ofT-shaped groove 19 extending along the rear faces of the frame pieces.The frame pieces are extended inward on to the corner plates 17 and willbe joined along their mitered cut ends at the corner of the plates 17and will be clearly seen in FIG. 4.

These frame pieces 11, are open on their inner faces to provide a base21 and a front hollow beading 22 that has a slit opening 23. The rear ofthe frame piece that has the groove 19, also has a bevel face 24 and anupper face 25 facing the space 21 and the slit opening 23 of the bead22.

In order to complete assembly of the frame to adapt to receive thepicture mat mounting assembly, indicated generally at 26, an inner frameor shadow wall member 27 is slid longitudinally into the space 21 of thepicture frame piece and is retained therein by a small rib 28 alignedwith the slit opening 23. This shadow frame piece 27 has a main beveledge 29 that will extend inwardly from the bead 22 of the frame pieceand a bottom inclined surface 31 extending from the bottom portion 32that will overlie the incline face 24 on the bottom of the frame piecewhile the portion 32 of the shadow piece 27 will lie flush over thesurface 25 of the outer frame piece. The incline faces 29 and 31 of theshadow frame piece 27 terminate at their inner ends. A square cornerrecess portion 33 for receiving the picture mat assembly 26.

The picture mat assembly 26 generally comprises a glass or transparentfront member 36, a picture mat frame 37, a picture 38 and a backing 39.This entire assembly is dropped into the corner recess 33 of the shadowframe part 27 and must be retained with an outward displacement from therear of the picture frame assembly 10.

To hold the picture mat assembly 26 in place in the rear of the pictureframe assembly, further use is made of the T- shaped groove 19 that hasserved to join the mitered frame pieces together by the angle plates 17,by the provision of clips 41, which can be inserted when turned to onedirection into the T-shaped groove 19, but when turned to anotherdirection or at right angles to the inserting position for the groove,to overlie the picture mat assembly 26 and bear against the backingmember 39 to thereby lock the picture mat assembly 26 into the squaredrecess 33 of the shadow frame piece 27. This clip 41 has dependingopposing fingers 42 and 43 struck from the body of the material at oneend thereof which can project into the opening 19 along its narrowportion 44 when the clip is in the position as shown in full lines inFIG. 4 and these projections 42 and 43 have outwardly turned ends, whichwill engage lips 46 and 47 when the clip 41 is turned to a dotted lineposition shown at 41 to overlie the picture mat assembly 26. The clip isthereby made secure to the frame piece through the finger projections 42and 43 and will bias itself toward the picture mat assembly 26. A thumbdepression 48 is provided on the inner end of the clip so that the thumbcan be applied readily to the clip to angle the same and at the sametime the clip is assured of making pressure contact with the picturemount assembly 26. Any number of these clips can be applied dependingupon the size of the frame being completed and the clip can be attachedat any location along the length of the groove 19 in the frame piece 14.By reversing the rotation of the clips 41, the clip can be removed fromthe frame assembly to release the picture mat assembly 26 into therecesses 33 of the shadow frame piece 27, so that it can be replaced byanother picture when reassembled and made ready for being placed withinthe frame assembly. It should be apparent that by the provision of theseclips a very simple means has been provided for retaining and holdingthe picture mat assembly within the picture frame, and at the same timethere is provided a simple means for effecting the release of thepicture mat assembly and replacement of another such assembly.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. to 9, 50 represents generally afloating frame and painting assembly in which the frame has been adaptedto receive a canvas painting by the provision of a differently shapedinner wall piece 51 then that shown in the above described first form ofthe invention and which has a squared inner recess 52 into which acanvas painting frame 53 is dropped and made secure in place by asimilar spring clip 54 and nails or screws 55. The inner frame piece 51is extruded to a different shape from the shadow frame piece 27 of thefirst form of the invention and the clip 54 is shaped differently on itsinner end and provided with holes 56 and 57 spaced from one another forreceiving the screws or nails 55 that enter wood frame 58 ofthe canvaspainting 53.

The frame pieces are of extruded formation and with the outer framepiece being of the same piece as described with the first form of theinvention has the space 21 provided by the bead 22 with the slit 23, theT-shaped slot 19 in the bottom of the frame piece and a surface 25.

The inner floating frame piece 51 is generally of channel shaped withspaced flanges 58 and 59, the flange 58 having a rib 61 extended in theslot 23 of the outer frame piece and the flange 59 overlying the surface25 on the bottom of the frame piece.

Extending inwardly from the flange 59 and over the incline face 24 ofthe bottom of the outer frame piece 14 is the square recessed portion 52into which the canvas frame 53 sets.

The clip 54 has inwardly extending finger projections 62 and 63 thatextend into the groove 19, which are made fast through the groove by theturning of the clip 54 from a longitudinal position running along withthe frame piece to a right angle position so that its end overlies thepainting assembly 53 to a position as shown in FIG. 8.

A thumb depression 64 is provided on the clip 54 for the same purpose asmentioned above to facilitate the moving of the clip to the angledposition and a surface on which the wooden frame 58 may rest. With thepainting frame in place the screws or nails 55 are forced into thewooden frame 58 of the painting so that the rear face of the woodenframe 58 is brought into tight engagement with the depression surface 64and with the corner recess 52 of the inner frame piece 51.

It should now be apparent that the same outer frame pieces can continueto be used and that by a different shaped inner piece the outer framepieces are adapted for use for providing a floating frame assembly forthe supporting of a canvas painting 53. It would be understood thatthese frame pieces are cut from extruded members, that they are miteredand connected together in the same manner as described more in detail inconnection with the first form of the invention. It will also beapparent that the frame pieces are held together by angle pieces 65 andscrews 67. The wooden frame of the painting have its pieces heldtogether by corner members 68, as seen in FIG. 6.

Referring now to FIGS. to 16, 70 represents generally a floating frameaccording to a modified form of the invention adapted to receive awooden painting frame over which a canvas 72 is extended and this canvasas indicated at 73 extends over the edges of the wooden frame 71. Anouter frame 74 comprising four pieces running horizontally andvertically and mitered together at the corners when taken with an innerwall part 76 serves to support the painting frame 71. The outer wallpart has a forward bead edge 77 extending inwardly and having an innergroove 78 for receiving a rib 79 of the inner wall part 76. The innerwall part 76 has an inclined wall 81 slanting rearwardly and inwardlyfrom its forward face and joined at 82 with a rear leg portion 83 overwhich a rear groove portion 84 of the outer frame pieces 74 are joined.The inner wall part or frame piece 76-can be snapped fastened into placewith the rib 79 entering the groove 78 of the forward bead 77 to hold inthe wall part in place. The canvas 77 extending about the wood frame 71will have its inner end joined with the corner 82 of the wall part andrest upon the inner end of the wall surface 81 thereof leaving an openspace to show depth about the edge of the painting.

The rear portion 84 has a T shaped groove 85, the groove extending aboutthe full extent of the frame and is adapted to receive a modified clip86, shown in an enlarged form in FIG. 13, that is secured within the Tshaped slot 85 by a lining and in the clip parallel with the slot 85 soas to permit opposing finger projections 87 and 88 to be inserted intothe slot 85 and under respective flanges 89 and 91 and upon the clip 86being turned as illustrated in FIG. 4, the clip will extend rigidlyinwardly for attachment of its inner end portion 92 upon being bentinwardly as shown in FIG. 12 to the rear face of the wooden frame 71 bya screw 93 that extends through a hole 94 at the outer end of theportion 92. Several of these clips 86 can be placed on the frame andsecured to the wooden painting frame 71. The clips at the side of theframe may serve for the attachment of a wire 95 by which the frame andthe painting can be hung on a wall surface. As the portions 92 are bentinwardly, triangular shaped portions 96 with an opening 97 therein areexposed for the securement thereto of the hanging wire 95 by merelylooping the same into the opening and twisting the ends of the wire toprovide a loop 95 The opposing clip projections 87 and 88 are quarterrounded in order to prevent a rolling engagement with the interior wallsof the T shaped slot 85 and as indicated at 87' and 88' so that theprojections can extend the full width of the T shaped slot and haverolling engagement with the inner side walls of the slots 85 and effecta stop when the clip is extended inwardly to hold the clip againstturning beyond 90 degrees, the amount the clip has been turned to securethe same in the T shaped slot 85.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, there is shown angle shaped plates 100 correspondingto the angle shaped plates 17 and 65 of the two previously describedangle plates, that serve to secure the outer frame pieces together atthe mitered corners. With the angle plate pieces 100 the legs of thesame are bowed at 101 and 102 to provide additional thickness so that aflush and tight fit can be made of the angle pieces in the T shaped slot85 and so that the surfaces of the bowed portions 101 and 102 willengage tightly with the underfaces of the opposing inwardly extendingflanges of the slot. In this manner screws used with the other angleshaped plates are dispensed with.

Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18, there are shown two modified forms ofthe angle shaped corner plate. In FIG. 17, the plate is angled withdiverging bends 104 and 105 leaving a top engaging face 106 as the legof the corner plate is compressed not only will a tight fit be effectedvertically in the T- shaped slot, but upon compression of the flat face106, there will be laterally tight fitting engagement with the sides ofthe T-shaped slot.

In FIG. 18 is a corner plate 108 having two legs, only one of whichbeing shown, in which the upward bends of the plate are made on a biasparalleling one another as indicated at 109 and 110, and where a flatface 111 will engage the top of the T- shaped slot and upon compressingwill because of the bias folds cause the edges of the leg to extendlaterally to have tight fit engagement with the sides of the slot aswell as with the top and bottom of the slot. This laterally shifting ofthe raised portion of the leg is inherent with the upwardly bentportions being effected upon a bias either as shown in FIG. 17 where thebends 104 and 105 diverge or in FIG. 18 where the bends 109 and 110 areparallel.

What is claimed is:

1. A picture mounting assembly comprising an outer frame formed of framepieces mitered at their corners and joined together, said outer framepieces having a T-shaped groove running along the rear face thereof,said outer members having a forward bead providing a space between therear portion and the bead, an inner frame piece having a squared recessfor receiving the picture assembly carried within the space of the outerframe piece, and clip members having projecting fingers adapted to beextended into the T-shaped groove of the outer frame piece and turnablefrom a longitudinal position to a right angle position to effect lockingengagement with the T- shaped groove, a picture assembly in the squaredportion of the inner frame piece and said clip when turned to its rightangle position serving to retain the picture assembly in the squarerecess of the inner wall piece.

2. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said innerwall piece having an incline face overlying the front of the pictureassembly and a rib projection engageable with the bead portion of theouter frame piece serving to hold the inner frame piece in place withinthe space of the outer frame piece, said inner wall piece having afurther portion overlying the bottom of the outer wall piece, and saidinner wall piece being to its rib snap fastened into the space of theouter wall piece.

3. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 2, and said squarerecess portion of the inner wall piece overlying the inside of thebottom of the outer wall piece and adapted to receive a picture matassembly from the rear of the frame, and said clip extending over thesquare recessed portion of the inner wall member and bearing against therear of the picture mat assembly.

4. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim I, and said innerframe piece having a channel portion and flanges respectively underlyingthe front bead portion of the outer wall piece and overlying the rearportion of the outer frame piece, said square recessed portion extendinginwardly from the channel portion and opening to the front of thepicture frame assembly with its rear wall lying flush with the rear faceof the outer wall piece, said picture assembly including a wooden framewith a canvas painting thereon and fastening elements extending into thewooden frame from the inner ends of the clips to hold the painting frameagainst the recessed portion of the inner wall member.

5. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said clipmembers having an inwardly bendable inner end and a portion struck fromthe bendable end and having an opening in the struck portion forreceiving the end of a hanging wire and the inwardly bent end having anopening for receiving a screw for attachment to a wooden frame.

6. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said clipmember having a portion when turned overlying the inner edge of theframe and engageable with the rear face of the pictures to hold the samein place.

7. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 6, and said cliphaving an eye portion for the engagement therewith of a hanging wire.

8. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said framepieces being joined at the corners of the frame with angle shaped cornerplates having two legs and each of said legs being bent upwardly alongdiverging fold lines to provide a top engaging face whereby uponcompression and tight fitting engagement in the T-shaped slot the saidedges of the bent up part of the leg portion will be shifted laterallyto effect tight gripping engagement laterally with the sides of the slotas well as vertically with the top and bottom thereof.

9. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and

said frame pieces being joined at the corners of the frame with angleshaped corner plates having two legs and each of said legs being bentupwardly on a bias to provide parallel, but slanting folds, whereby uponcompression and tight fitting engagement in the T-shaped slot the saidedges of the bent up part of the leg portion will be shifted laterallyto effect tight gripping engagement laterally with the sides of the slotas well as vertically with the top and bottom thereof.

1. A picture mounting assembly comprising an outer frame formed of framepieces mitered at their corners and joined together, said outer framepieces having a T-shaped groove running along the rear face thereof,said outer members having a forward bead providing a space between therear portion and the bead, an inner frame piece having a squared recessfor receiving the picture assembly carried within the space of the outerframe piece, and clip members having projecting fingers adapted to beextended into the T-shaped groove of the outer frame piece and turnablefrom a longitudinal position to a right angle position to effect lockingengagement with the T-shaped groove, a picture assembly in the squaredportion of the inner frame piece and said clip when turned to its rightangle position serving to retain the picture assembly in the squarerecess of the inner wall piece.
 2. A picture mounting assembly, asdefined in claim 1, and said inner wall piece having an incline faceoverlying the front of the picture assembly and a rib projectionengageable with the bead portion of the outer frame piece serving tohold the inner frame piece in place within the space of the outer framepiece, said inner wall piece having a further portion overlying thebottom of the outer wall piece, and said inner wall piece being to itsrib snap fastened into the space of the outer wall piece.
 3. A picturemounting assembly, as defined in claim 2, and said square recess portionof the inner wall piece overlying the inside of the bottom of the outerwall piece and adapted to receive a picture mat assembly from the rearof the frame, and said clip extending over the square recessed portionof the inner wall member and bearing against the rear of the picture matassembly.
 4. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, andsaid inner frame piece having a channel portion and flanges respectivelyunderlying the front bead portion of the outer wall piece and overlyingthe rear portion of the outer frame piece, said square recessed portionextending inwardly from the channel portion and opening to the front ofthe picture frame assembly with its rear wall lying flush with the rearface of the outer wall piece, said picture assembly including a woodenframe with a canvas painting thereon and fastening elements extendinginto the wooden frame from the inner ends of the clips to hold thepainting frame against the recessed portion of the inner wall member. 5.A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said clipmembers having an inwardly bendable inner end and a portion struck fromthe bendable end and having an opening in the struck portion forreceiving the end of a hanging wire and the inwardly bent end having anopening for receiving a screw for attachment to a wooden frame.
 6. Apicture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said clip memberhaving a portion when turned overlying the inner edge of the frame andengageable with the rear face of the pictures to hold the same in place.7. A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 6, and said cliphaving an eye portion for the engagement therewith of a hanging wire. 8.A picture mounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said framepieces being joined at the corners of the frame with angle shaped cornerplates having two legs and each of said legs being bent upwardly alongdiverging fold lines to provide a top engaging face whereby uponcompression and tight fitting engagement in the T-shaped slot the saidedges of the bent up part of the leg portion will be shifted laterallyto effect tight gripping engagement laterally with the sides of the slotas well as vertically with the top and bottom thereof.
 9. A picturemounting assembly, as defined in claim 1, and said frame pieces beingjoined at the corners of the frame with angle shaped corner plateshaving two legs and each of said legs being bent upwardly on a bias toprovide parallel, but slanting folds, whereby upon compression and tightfitting engagement in the T-shaped slot the said edges of the bent uppart of the leg portion will be shifted laterally to effect tightgripping engagement laterally with the sides of the slot as well asvertically with the top and bottom thereof.